NEWSLETTER Easter 2020

As we all enter into a completely unknown phase in our lives, I would like to reach out and share my most positive thoughts with all the families and friends of the school. We have been humbled by the many, many messages we have received recently, expressing heartfelt thanks to the school and care for our staff. Your warm and sincere messages have really helped to keep all of us feeling positive and full of resolve to continue supporting your children, no matter how challenging that feels at the moment. Students make a school, indeed they are our school and we are all finding it hard to adjust to not having them here and for most staff, to not being here. Teachers will continue to interact with their students BEN IS EVER PRESENT! as regularly as possible via their Google Classroom- please do encourage your son/daughter to ask questions if they are unsure or need clarification. Congratulations to Ben Pringle, in Year 11, who has achieved I am delighted that I am able to share our Easter newsletter with you, 100% attendance since his first which comprises a huge number of fantastic articles in which our students' successes are celebrated. As ever, our students continue to day as a Year 7 in 2015. excel across such a wide range of disciplines and make me and the staff feel incredibly proud.

I was recently forwarded a reading by Mr Bunce, our Lead Teacher of Theology and Philosophy, which I shared with our staff last week. Below is a copy for your consideration and enjoyment.

And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some Quick-thinking staff ensured the met their shadows. And the people began to think differently. traditional shirt-signing for And the people healed. And, in the absence of people living Year 11s wasn’t missed. in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, Turn to pages 27 and 28. and heartless ways, the earth began to heal. INSIDE THIS ISSUE And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and Performing Arts 2 dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the In the community 3 earth fully, as they had been healed. KITTY O’MEARA Sport 8

Academic news 13 The staff and I look forward to working with you all again in our usual way once the current situation is calmer. Please do stay in contact Careers 20 with us, look after your families and don't hesitate to ask if you think we can offer any further support. Alumni 24 Headteacher’s Values Award 26 Best wishes Shirt signing 27 Jenna Potter, Headteacher

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NORTHERN STAR IS A GREAT ROLE MODEL TO YOUNG DANCERS

A talented dancer, who mentors and inspires younger students, has secured a place at the Northern Ballet School in Manchester. Eva Midgley, a Year 13 student, is passionate about dance and her multiple exam successes and teaching qualifications have led her to inspire hundreds of other students and pursue her childhood dream of being a dancer. Eva is a key member and leader of the school’s Evolution Dance Company and along with fellow Year 13 students, Sophie Wright and Izzy Walton, she teaches the younger students, choreographing a range of dance routines. She is also a huge inspiration to the students at the Janet Seymour School of Theatre Dance where she has trained since she was three years old. Eva’s dance credentials are impressive. She has attained the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance Advanced 2 tap (highest level), will shortly be taking the Royal of Dance Grade 8 ballet (also the highest level) and is working towards the Advanced Modern qualification. Eva has performed in numerous shows and productions, locally in a host of settings, including Tennants and The Georgian Theatre, as well as further afield at venues such as The Sage. Janet Seymour, Principal of the Janet Seymour School of Theatre Dance, said: “I am overjoyed for Eva. Dancing often four times a week, ballet, tap and modern theatre, Eva has shown immense commitment and talent from the day she started dancing with me, aged three! She has been an absolute joy to teach over the years and I am grateful to have been part of this journey. This is her first choice vocational college and one of the best in the country. I wish her every success.” Eva has studied dance at since Year 7 and, over the years, she has become a real asset to the Dance department. After achieving a grade 8 at GCSE level, she went on to pursue her studies with the Level 3 CTEC in Performing Arts. Danni Fox, Lead Teacher for Dance, commented: “Eva continues to thrive in both her dance training and theoretical work; both of which are focused around preparing students for further training and work in the industry. Eva has adapted to a diverse range of contemporary dance techniques such as Graham, Humphrey, Cunningham and Release, and has developed a unique sense of style in her own choreography. We are so proud of Eva’s achievements and the way she inspires many younger students in the school. I have no doubt that she will go on to have a successful career in the dance industry.” Eva’s three-year course at the Northern Ballet School will lead to a level-6 Diploma in Dance and she is aiming to pursue a career in musical theatre and the ballet. Eva concluded: ”I have wanted to be a dancer for as long as I can remember and I am really excited to have achieved my place at the prestigious Northern Ballet School. The course offers a broad range of disciplines so is a great springboard to prepare myself for work in musical theatre.”

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RICHMOND SCHOOL HOSTS NEW PANATHLON XTEND EVENT Students from Mowbray School were delighted to be crowned gold medallists of the inaugural Panathlon Xtend event. Four teams, from The Dales School and Mowbray School, came to Richmond School to take part in this new mini-Paralympics-style competition which is designed for Key Stage 3 children, bridging the gap between the primary and older secondary children’s events. The Key Stage 3 age group has been identified as an important time for children with special needs in sport, allowing them to take part and gain an appreciation of the activities that are offered in the Panathlon programmes. At primary age, children are very keen to be involved in sport, however research shows that their interest and participation decreases as they reach secondary school. The Panathlon Xtend is aimed to invigorate their enthusiasm and passion for the sporting opportunities that are available. Val French, Lead for Panathlon in the Inclusive Sports Partnership, said: “It has been really rewarding to see how the students have enjoyed this event, they have tried really hard and engaged with each other and also with the Sports Leaders who supported them. Once again, I am indebted to the Year 12 Sports Leaders who were fundamental to the smooth running and success of the day.” The students competed in a wide range of sports, including table tennis, kurling, boccia and dodge ball creating a very positive atmosphere that fostered a great team spirit for each group taking part. The students’ behaviour was wonderful, and they were patient as they moved on and waited for the next event to start. This can be very hard for students with special educational needs but as they were so engaged in the activities they were happy and enjoyed watching other groups. The inclusive sporting activities have been hosted at Richmond School for five years, and are generously sponsored by Panathlon and LNER, without whom the events could not run. Lynsey Carruthers, School Games Organiser and PE Teacher, said: “It is always an honour for us to stage Panathlon events and we never have a shortage of Sports Leaders to volunteer. It is a great experience for them to lead the various activities and to help the students, demonstrating what they need to do and giving support and assurance when required.” Panathlon events instil a sense of pride in the students taking part, giving them an opportunity to travel somewhere new and experience competitive sports in a friendly and welcoming environment. They are equally valuable to the Sports Leaders to develop their leadership and communication skills. They gain confidence in how to guide less-able students which requires additional patience in coping with behavioural and coordination issues they may not have experienced before.

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STUDENTS GET SMART WITH THEIR DRIVING SKILLS Two students have benefited from advanced training in safer driving thanks to the generous support of the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM). Lee Porter, IAM RoadSmart expert, delivered one-to-one advanced lessons to Hollie Butler and Ashleigh Green, Year 13 students, as part of a wider campaign in college to develop safer driving awareness.

Since November, 120 Year 13 students have taken part in road safety initiatives, working with the IAM, the North Yorkshire Traffic Bureau and local racing driver Max Coates. On the back of these projects, the IAM kindly offered six students complimentary advanced driving lessons to further their driving skills.

Lasting around 75 minutes, the one-to-one on-road modules were delivered in the students’ own cars. The majority of the time was spent out on the road, where the instructor observed their driving, offering helpful hints and tips to help them improve their skills, focusing closely on their chosen module topic.

Hollie Butler, Year 13 student, commented: “Outside of college, I would never have participated in an extra driving course but I’m so glad I completed the IAM safety course through college as it has given me confidence in my driving and has made me feel more comfortable in the decisions I make when driving. I think it’s really important to promote safe driving amongst teenagers and, even though I’ve been driving for a year, I learnt a lot from the course that I wouldn’t have learnt from driving lessons or just my experience on the road itself.

“The modules I chose were ‘Driving in towns’ and ‘Distractions. This allowed me to drive all the way to York on a variety of roads (country and motorway) and experience busy city traffic which I had very little experience of in the past. The course has boosted my driving confidence and highlighted areas in my driving that I can improve to make me a safer driver. With the course being provided free-of-charge I think this is an amazing opportunity for other students to participate in as it really shapes you into a better driver and gives you experience that you can use every time you drive.”

Ian Dawson, a teacher at the college and the young driver advocate at the local branch of the IAM, co-ordinates the safer driver programme and said: “We are so appreciative of the incredible support the IAM are giving our students. Hollie and Ashleigh found the training invaluable and it is wonderful that a further four students will benefit from this opportunity.”

The training was carried out by Lee Porter, a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) since 1999 who has worked for the organisation since 2005 and has a wealth of knowledge of road safety and instructing. Lee said: “Having taught learners to drive for over 20 years myself, I know that extra driver training is invaluable, as from my experience of returning to families to teach the next family member to drive, unfortunately I found that some of their older brothers and sisters had been involved in accidents in the first year of passing their test. I look at good driving as a real skill, like being good at football or music for instance, but the difference with being a great driver, is it might save your life one day!

“I really enjoy working with the students who have recently passed their tests, as they have been taught to drive the modern way, are used to learning, so they are constantly seeking to improve their driving skills. Certainly, the IAM RoadSmart driving modules I have conducted at Richmond Sixth Form College, have shown the students continue to analyse their driving to ensure they don't slip into bad habits, and understand that these course modules will massively lower the chances of being involved in a road traffic crash, helping to keep their insurance costs as low as possible.”

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YEAR 9 SPORTS LEADERS OFFICIATE AT PRIMARY TAG RUGBY FESTIVAL

School recently hosted the Richmond Area Tag Rugby competition for pupils in Years 5 and 6. Nine teams/schools from around the local area competed which meant approximately 100 pupils were taking part. Congratulations to Brompton-on-Swale Primary School for finishing first and second in the competition and therefore qualifying for the Area final.

The event was supported by Year 9 students studying a CTEC Sport course. They have spent the last few months being trained by Richmond School and Rugby Football Union staff to develop them as young Rugby officials. These pupils are just starting their sports leadership journey and despite rugby being a very fast paced game to officiate, they made an excellent start.

Congratulations to the six students involved; Jacob Dunn, Fin Tulip, Joe Syddall, Alex Nimmo, Jake Percival and Anthony Edwards.

DUKE OF EDINBURGH STUDENTS ARE SET FOR THEIR EXPEDITION Fifty of our Year 10 students have recently successfully completed their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh residential training weekend at Marrick Priory. The award itself comprises four sections– Volunteering, Physical, Skills and the Expedition. The students covered a range of skills they will need for their practice and qualifying expeditions, including map reading and navigation, camp craft (putting up tents, packing rucksacks, cooking safely on trangia stoves), team -building exercises, planning and recording route cards, as well as basic first aid techniques. Students spent a full day out in Swaledale putting the theory of navigation into practice in their own expedition groups. Practice expeditions with full kit and camping outdoors are still scheduled for the future and then each group will be assessed on a two-day qualifying expedition to complete this section of the award. We also have a group of seven Year 12 students embarking on the prestigious Gold Duke of Edinburgh award. The expedition for this challenging award is extended to four days walking and three nights camping. Their final assessment will take place in the Lake District. Both groups worked well across their training weekends coping admirably with some challenging weather conditions at times, and impressing their instructors from Marrick with their positive attitudes.

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TEACHER SINGS ON MILITARY WIVES FILM SOUNDTRACK

The recent launch of the Military Wives film was a special moment for teacher Dr Jane Scott, who not only sings on the film’s soundtrack but was also interviewed for a BBC Look North news feature that was aired on the opening day of the blockbuster movie.

At the choir’s rehearsal, the night before the film’s launch, presenters from BBC Look North and BBC Radio Tees came along to interview choir members and record them singing. In addition, BBC Look North attended the opening night and live streamed the choir. The choir sang numbers from their repertoire to the capacity audience before watching the film.

Dr Scott has been teaching at Richmond School for three and a half years and joined the choir in 2012, as a soprano one, when she was working for the Army as an instructor and then a manager for Army Education. The WAGS promote music extensively in the community and have collaborated with Richmond School on a number of projects, at events hosted in the school and also at the Georgian Theatre. These have involved the theatre company, as well as musical groups such as the jazz band and orchestra.

Dr Scott and other members of the choir were invited to sing on the soundtrack as the Military Wives film is about the Catterick Military WAGS choir, which was the first and original choir. They were joined by members from other Military Wives Choirs around the country and recorded five tracks in one day, including a song that Robbie Williams has written especially for the film.

Dr Scott was chosen to introduce the trailer for the soundtrack which can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwrP3-3JkyY

Ten WAGS were invited to attend the film’s London premiere, together with Carol Gedye, the musical director of the choir from 2010 until last year. Mrs Gedye was initially approached by two Army wives with the idea of setting up the choir and that is how the phenomenon began. Mrs Gedye has a long-standing relationship with Richmond School as she taught here for a number of years. It was wonderful that she was asked to conduct the choir at the premiere. The film stars Kristin Scott Thomas and is directed by Peter Cattaneo, of multi-award-winning ‘Full Monty’ fame.

Dr Scott really enjoys singing with the choir and working on projects with Richmond School students. For her, the choir is not only about the singing it also acts as a great social gathering where the ladies are a strong support group for each other.

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PRIMARY TEACHERS LEARN THE ART OF CRAFT Mr Dawson and Mr Braham hosted a visit of 30 primary school teachers for a hands-on Design and Technology training session. The event was organised by the Swaledale Alliance and was an opportunity for primary staff to be trained by experts on how they can deliver Design and Technology effectively in primary schools. It was also an opportunity for Mr Braham and Mr Dawson to inform staff of what would be useful for students to know when they start Design and Technology in Year 7 at Richmond School.

The session lasted 1 ½ hours, starting with an insight into what Design and Technology is, why it is important, and using the KS1 and 2 curriculum - how they could deliver it effectively in primary schools. Staff were taught about the four-stage Design Process: investigate, design, make and evaluate, as well as the importance of problem-solving and ensuring students have a focus for their projects. Primary staff posed questions about the importance of creativity and the design cycle.

Primary staff then spent time completing a design and make challenge. They were given the problem of furniture and increasing student awareness of design and design eras - they were tasked with designing and making a model of a piece of furniture which could be used in their primary school to get students thinking about Design and encourage creativity. The primary staff, albeit slightly lacking in confidence, completed the task and demonstrated some fantastic design and make skills, creativity and used the design era inspiration to complete the task. Mr Dawson and Mr Braham were very impressed with their commitment and keenness!

Overall, the event was a huge success and primary staff have commented since on how useful it was. Mr Dawson and Mr Braham have some follow-up appointments to visit primary schools and have been asked to do some more in-depth training around tools, materials and equipment.

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CHEERLEADERS TAKE THE CROWN IN CHEERSPORT NATIONALS!

Congratulations to our seven students and their team mates who won the Junior 1 title at the Cheersport Nationals in Atlanta.

22,000 athletes from across America took part, but it was the twenty athletes from Colburn-based Lazer Cheer whose routine stunned the judges and awarded them the top honours in the championship. The team were presented with a trophy and a banner, and all the cheerleaders received a national champion jacket.

Proud directors of the club Mandy Foreman and her daughter Chelsea Foreman, who is also head coach, said: “This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the athletes. It’s the first time that ’we ve travelled abroad with the club, and the sheer size of the venue and competition in comparison to the events in the UK was shocking for us all. We put the team together in July, and have trained hard since then.

“The girls absolutely loved it. Cheer, as a sport, isn’t treated in the UK with the same regard it is in America – it’s a very big deal there so it was nice for them to experience that and compete in a huge event. They also got to meet some of their idols from the cheer world who were there too.”

A STRONG PERFORMANCE FROM THE SIXTH FORM FIRST XV The Sixth Form First XV rugby squad put in a strong performance against Carmel Sixth Form College. It was a closely-fought game with some excellent playing and teamwork.

The final score was 26-21 to Carmel, however this doesn’t do justice to the game and Richmond’s high standard of rugby on the pitch. It is a commendable result, especially given that the team only has two players who play each week for a club. Some of the team members have played in the past, however many of them have never played a game. Despite this inexperience, the training that the students have been attending since September has clearly made an impact and the team should be very proud of their game and the result.

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JUDE COLE - THE NAME TO WATCH IN GO-KARTING

Jude Cole, in Year 8, is rapidly becoming the name to watch in go-karting. Although Jude only started karting in February 2019, this didn’t stop him beating drivers with far more experience and winning his first race of the year at Teeside Autodrome. He then went on to perform extremely well at the Rowrah track in Cockermouth, in Cumbria, where after a hard day’s racing, including a spin in the final, he took third place.

Jude’s interest in karting started when his Dad took him to the local track in Teesside and it was immediately apparent that he was a natural behind the wheel. He entered the Teesside sprint series, which consisted of nine rounds of which Jude competed in eight. He achieved a podium in all but one round, where he was caught up in a crash. After talking over the winter months, and deciding what Jude would would like to do for the 2020 season, he plans to carry on supporting his local track at Teesside, racing in their sprint series, but also building on his driving skills by competing in the Rowrah and Sunderland’s Warden Law championships. This race season will consist of around eighteen rounds so a very busy calendar, as well as test days, to perfect the kart set-up and driving skills.

Jude's first kart was a Tony kart, which Jude purchased for a couple of hundred pounds with his own money. However, as Jude’s talent quickly became evident, it was clear that he needed something more reliable for the 2020 season. He is most appreciative to his cousin, Kayls Cole, an accomplished go-kart driver from Cork in Ireland. Kayls generously passed down her 2018 Mad Croc kart to Jude. This features an Italian chassis and, depending on the circuit, is capable of top speeds of 60-90mph.

Jude gets enormous satisfaction from racing. He has very mature race craft which has been great for building a large social circle. He also hopes this can lead to a career in motorsport engineering and driving. Well done Jude, keep up the great work!

STUDENTS COMPETE IN NORTH YORKSHIRE SCHOOL GAMES FINALS Two Year 7 sports hall athletics teams recently competed in the North Yorkshire School Games finals at Catterick Leisure Centre, having qualified first in the Hambleton & competition in November. The level of competition was much higher and saw our students competing against the top schools from York, /Craven and Scarborough/Ryedale areas. The pressure was on and everyone gave it their all in their track and field events. The girls’ team finished a respectable 6th (out of 8 teams) and boys came away with a silver medal, finishing in 2nd place behind St Aidan's School (Harrogate).

Girls Team - Charlotte Harrison, Maddie James, Erin Mankelow, Lily Wilson, Mia Parr, Ellen Newton and Emma Farrow. Boys Team - Ollie Rogerson, Isaac Bottomly, Ashton Newall, Joe White, Max Percival, James Cox and Riley Lister.

Our Year 12 and Year 13 students, who are studying the Level 3 CTEC Sport courses, were in charge of leading the event. They took on a number of roles including track starters, result coordinators and event officials, maintaining enthusiasm and professionalism through the day. The students were a credit to themselves and our college, receiving high praise from a number of schools and the staff organising the event from North Yorkshire Sport and Sportshall Athletics UK.

Level 3 CTEC Sport students - Abbie Robson, Alex Speakman, Alice Arundell, Josh Eggleston, Callum Perks, Daniel Auger, Joe Jordan, Jessica Kelly, Sophia Lyons, Jess Johnson, Emily Treweek, Andie Jones, James Norman, Charlie Coulton, Harry Needham, Sam Kettlewell and Matt Lambert.

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GUEST OF HONOUR FOR TWICKENHAM’S GRAND SHIRT REVEAL Connie Lord, an avid and talented Year 8 rugby player, was given the opportunity of a lifetime. As part of the RFU’s CBRE All Schools Programme, Connie was invited to Twickenham for the England v Wales Six Nations clash to unveil the shirt which four of our students (Connie included) designed in October.

The day started early with an 8am train to London, before heading over to Twickenham to be briefed about Connie’s role during the day. She was also interviewed about the shirt she had helped design.

Fifteen minutes before kick-off, Connie, wearing her unique shirt, and with other students from various schools across the country, walked onto the pitch. In front of the crowd they unveiled a banner celebrating the 750 schools who have joined the programme over the last eight years. After the pre-match work was complete, Connie took a fantastic seat close to the action where she was able to sit back and enjoy the rest of the fast-paced game which was a victory for England, 33-30.

The day was topped off by bumping into former England captain Dylan Hartley, who kindly stopped for a photograph, before rushing off to meet his partner who was having a baby!

SKIERS ADD SLALOM PLATE TO SCHOOL’S SILVERWARE Congratulations to Archie Dolan (Year 11), Ben Webster and James Norman (Year 13) who are delighted to add the slalom plate salver to the school's silverware, in recognition of their success at the British Schoolboys championships in Switzerland.

The students presented Mrs Potter, Headteacher, with the plate which will take pride of place in the trophy cabinet at the entrance to school. The students won one of the dual slalom events at the competition, an amazing achievement. The standard of skiing was incredibly high and the boys were only closely beaten by the eventual overall cup finalists. A full review of the girls and boys ski squads experience at the British Schoolboys and Schoolgirls competitions can be viewed https://www.richmondschool.net/ski-teams-excel-in-france-and-switzerland/

If any students are interested in finding out more about joining the school ski teams please contact Alison Brooks e:[email protected] for further details.

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CHARLIE RACES UP THE RANKINGS Charlie Stephenson, in Year 11, is racing up the cross-country ranking. He recently ran for his running club, Richmond and Zetland Harriers, in the Under 17 competition at the English national cross country competition at Nottingham. This was the first year in this age group and he came 14th out of 286. This is a huge achievement for Charlie, especially as he ran in the worst conditions to date, due to the inclement and stormy weather. He was also placed 7th in the recent Yorkshire finals at Lightwater Valley, 2nd at the inter-schools at Cumbria, and 13th at the Northerns, hosted at Camp Hill near Bedale. He is hoping that he has done enough to represent Yorkshire at the mini-London Marathon. Looking ahead, Charlie will be representing Yorkshire at the British Athletics Inter Counties Championship at Loughborough, followed by the English Schools Championships at Liverpool. As if that isn’t enough, at the beginning of April Charlie will test for the British triathlon super series at Loughborough! A CLOSE GAME FOR U13 GIRLS’ FOOTBALL TEAM IN THE COUNTY CUP QUARTER FINAL The Under 13 girls travelled 67 miles to play in the county cup quarter final. Both teams were very evenly matched. The first 10 minutes were neck and neck and then Shannon Findlay was fouled in our box, resulting in a penalty to Richmond. Miss Harrower called upon Charlotte Harrison to step up, as she knew she was calm and collected after the indoor tournament at taking penalties. Bang! Bottom left hand corner and it was 1-0 to Richmond. Shortly afterwards, Emma Farrow kept the pressure on their defence and managed to take on three of them and scored an excellent strike, making it 2-0 to Richmond. Barlby found their feet and put a good goal past us.

An unfortunate scuffed ball allowed Barlby to put another past us to equalize at 2-2. The opposition’s attack grew in confidence and their number 6 scored another, there was no chance for Ella in goal to stop that one, so half-time closed -3 2 to Barlby. During the second half, Richmond were all over Barlby. Beth Rutterford dropped into defence and made some excellent long passes over the top of the Barlby midfielders, our attack just struggled to get on the end of them. There were some fabulous corners from Connie Lord and, just three minutes before full time, Emma Farrow scored the equaliser! The referee asked what the plan was should we finish on a draw. We decided straight to penalties, one minute before full time Barlby secured their winning goal! The final score was 4-3 to Barlby.

This was an extremely close game with an excellent effort from the Under 13 girls in the county cup. Woman of the match was Beth Rutterford. A special team welcome to Isabella Barker who made a great debut!

AREA NETBALLERS DISPLAY EXCELLENT TEAMWORK

Our students travelled to Queen Mary’s School near Thirsk to play in the U15 Area tournament. The squad of ten worked incredibly hard in a tough group achieving 5th place out of nine teams overall. The girls displayed excellent teamwork and showed great support for each other.

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CAMERON MAKES HIS MARK ON THE ENDURO RACING SCENE With the North Yorkshire Youth Enduro-racing championship firmly under his belt, a talented motorcyclist is making his mark on the senior Enduro-racing scene. Cameron Baker Haste, a Year 10 student, has clocked up a string of competition successes across the country and is rapidly becoming a name to look out for as his off-road riding skills are placing him among the top riders of his age group nationally. Fifteen-year-old Cameron has only been riding motorbikes for two years but his passion started as a toddler when he was given a Little Tikes trike, which he took everywhere, even to bed! He then moved on to riding a quad bike before stepping up to Enduro-racing. The discipline demands a lot of mental strength and stamina, as well as a huge amount of hard work to maintain the bike and learn how to do this. A natural rider, Cameron has taught himself many techniques and is focused and truly devoted to his passion for the sport, his sponsors and his team riders.

Enduro riding is an off-road discipline across marked-out sections over rough terrain. Riding a KTM 125 XC-W, Cameron is now regarded as a serious player, having scooped the North Yorkshire Youth Champion, he has just moved into the senior class in competitions that take him all over the country, almost every weekend of the year. Cameron, who is now regarded as a serious player in the senior class of Enduro racing, said: “When I am riding I forget about everything as I have such freedom. It’s not only fun but it’s something that I am good at and I am finding that my technical skill and physical strength is improving all the time. I am immensely grateful to all my sponsors who kindly support me and my fellow team riders.”

Cameron’s training schedule is relentless. To be bike-fit Cameron does static spinning, gym, circuit training and weights four times a week, training on his mo- torbike each Saturday, competing on Sunday with only one rest day on Monday.Cameron trains with his two brothers with his Mum, Ulrika, as mentor and team leader. They attend local and regional training grounds, and his main sponsor, Edge Offroad, offer play days the day before the race to get a feel for the track, where former Eurotek KTM factory rider Joe Deakin trains the Edge Offroad team on occasional team training days.

Sonya Jarvis, sole director of main sponsor Edge Offroad, said: “Having only met Cameron 16 months ago, it was clear from the outset that he has a passion for his riding, and is totally dedicated to it. It was obvious that he needed more support to further his dream and, from January this year, I was in a position to offer Cameron a sponsorship package that will do just that. With the likes of the world-leading oil brand, Motul Lubricants supplying oil to all the Edge Offroad team, Eurotek KTM, based in , supplying all the teams riding kit, helmets and boots and DP Brakes supplying brake pads; this is a fine start for Cameron and all the team to go forward with strength in 2020. He’s a great member of the team, and supports me on race weekends, never afraid to get stuck in and help out, and always has a smile on his face! We all hope he has a successful 2020, and here’s to his bright future.”

Cameron attends both British and various club championships, racing enduro cross country and extremes, as well as sprints, which he loves and is fast at. Cameron’s aim is to become a professional Enduro rider and judging by his progress and achievements to date, he is certainly heading that way.

Stella Wardale, Pastoral Manager, concluded: “It has been great to see Cameron develop from a shy Year 7 into a confident and independent Year 10 with the self -discipline and passion to achieve an exceptional level in his chosen sport- his face just lights up when he talks about it.” Photographs courtesy of Jim Forsyth Photography

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SPREADING THE LOVE FOR BOOKS Over 100 students expressed their love for books taking part in of ‘Blind Date with a Book’, an exciting and fun initiative to develop their interest in reading.

The initiative, which was masterminded by Amanda Farquhar, the school librarian, proved to be a winning formula. It was an interactive and enjoyable way to tempt students to read a selection of books, with just a hint of what was inside. The books were wrapped in brown paper with only a brief description on the tag – the premise being that ‘you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover!’ After choosing their books, the students un- wrapped them, but were urged not to be put off by their first impression. They were encouraged to give their book a chance as it may be a slow burner. Once the students finished the books, they were invited to return a ‘Rate My Date’ bookmark to give their feedback.

The aim of the project was to encourage all students across all year groups to read, with a broad range of fiction books on offer to ensure there was something for everyone. Reece Edwards, a Year 10 student, said: “It’s mysterious and cool at the same time – opening it up and discovering a new book you didn’t know.”

Amanda Farquhar, librarian, commented: “Students loved ‘Blind Date with a Book’ and I struggled to keep up with demand! It created a real buzz. I found that students liked the element of mystery.”

Students are always drawn to the school library. It’s a busy (although quiet!) hub with many events taking place and is packed with an extensive selection of books covering a wide range of genres, both fact and fiction.

Jan Montgomery, English Teacher, said: ‘The Blind Date with a Book’ initiative is a great way to intrigue and engage young readers. What could be more exciting than unwrapping a parcel to discover hidden treasures inside?”

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STUDENTS ENJOY TWO ACTION-PACKED DAYS OF HISTORY The History department took 34 sixth form students to London for two action-packed days. The students took part in a Chinese History conference, specifically for sixth formers, as well as visiting the Tower of London and the Houses of Parliament. The first day was spent at a conference for students studying Chinese History, 1949 to 1976. The lectures were given by university lecturers on a range of relevant subjects including how far the economic policies of Mao were successful and the role of the youth in the Cultural Revolution. The students were particularly engaged in the lectures given by Professor Yangwen Zheng from Manchester University, who illustrated her points by examples from her own family’s history. The lectures were an excellent way for the students to consolidate their knowledge of the China part of the History course and experience university style learning. The conference was in central London, which gave the students the opportunity to explore the city further. They managed to see most of the sights, spending time in Covent Garden and visiting Leicester Square, climbing on Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square, seeing Downing Street, the London Eye and spending a very pleasant evening strolling along the south bank of the Thames, seeing the Globe and the Golden Hinde. The second day began with a very exciting visit to the Houses of Parliament. The visit started at the education centre with an interactive video on the history of Parliament, after which the students were taken into the House of Commons and Lords where the workings of both chambers were explained. The students demonstrated an excellent understanding of politics and current affairs and the guides were very impressed with their knowledge. It was an excellent opportunity for them to see first-hand how our democracy works and what happens there. The final visit was to the Tower of London, which enhanced the students’ understanding of the Tudor part of the History course. They explored the castle, looking at sights such as, the place where Anne Boleyn and many other famous prisoners were executed, the crown jewels and the White Tower. The students were particularly fascinated by the armour and weapons in the Tower and then enjoyed exploring further for themselves. The visit to London was a great experience for the students to enhance their understanding of the History course and learn in different environments. Mrs Mawer, Lead Teacher for History, said: “The students were impeccably behaved and were definitely a credit to themselves and the school. It was a pleasure to take such polite and thoughtful young people and everyone thoroughly enjoyed their time away.”

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BBC RADIO 4 INVITES STUDENT TO HIGH-PROFILE INTERVIEW ABOUT THE CHANCELLOR George Whyatt, a Year 10 student, contributed to ‘Profile, a leading BBC Radio 4 programme which gives an insight into the character of an influential figure making news headlines. George was invited to talk to the BBC about an earlier podcast he and fellow student George Harris recorded with Rishi Sunak , MP for Richmond (Yorks) and the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Broadcast on Radio 4, Mark Coles, presenter of ‘Profile’, spoke to a select group of contributors who shared their experiences and knowledge of Rishi Sunak. George Whyatt was discovered by the producers of ‘Profile’, who contacted Richmond School after coming across a Podcast that George and George Harris had created, when they did a 25-minute interview with Rishi in October.

George was honoured to be interviewed for ‘Profile’ alongside Chris Lloyd (Chief Features Writer at the Northern Echo), as well as other contributors including Katy Balls (Deputy Political Editor at The Spectator), George Parker (Political Editor at the Financial Times) and Neil Parish (Conservative MP). Rishi’s Profile comes hot on the heels of another programme with Baroness Hale, an alumna of Richmond School. Other recent shows included Michael Morpurgo, Eddie Jones, John Bercow, Stormzy and Maggie Smith.

George said: “I had seen Rishi’s appointment was breaking news but I was not expecting the BBC to come to me! I feel privileged to have been approached.”

The two Georges have an avid interest in journalism and the media and when interviewing Rishi for their own podcast they were delighted when Rishi told them that they had a great set of questions which they put to him with commendable assurance.

Jenna Potter, Headteacher , said: “Little did the students know that when they were interviewing Rishi in October, he was someone who, only four months later, would become one of the most influential and powerful people in the country. This is something the two Georges will never forget.” STUDENTS CRAFT IMPRESSIVE ELIZABETHAN THEATRE MODELS In English, Year 7 are currently studying ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and for homework, Mrs Weston’s class were given the task of either drawing a diagram or creating a model of Shakespeare’s Globe. Alice Hutchinson and Mason Lockey went above and beyond expectations by creating these excellent constructions of an Elizabethan Theatre which demonstrates their keen observational skills, as well as their craftsmanship in bringing their vision to reality.

Mason’s cleverly constructed model is made from a recycled food container which has been carefully painted to represent the theatre, while the thatch roof has been created using jute hanging basket liner.

Alice’s detailed model is considerably larger and made from cardboard, complete with beautifully drawn details, a stage made from lolly-pop sticks and matchsticks have been used to create the effect of a thatch roof. Alice’s model also includes beautiful, tiny flags which explain the key features of the Elizabethan theatre.

Their English teacher, Mrs Weston, said, “I am absolutely blown away by the effort made by these fabulous students. Their models are simply stunning and I am very proud of their hard work and impressive creations.”

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STUDENTS GAIN VALUABLE RESEARCH SKILLS As part of their Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), a group of 31 Year 12 students visited Durham University Library. The students engaged very well in a seminar-style session, with a member of the university’s Academic Skills team. The talk focused on research, analysis, referencing and bibliographies tailored specifically to the EPQ and gave them guidance about how to use the university library catalogue.

The students were shown how to locate resources and use the impressive library, which is spread over a number of floors. The students were confident and pro-active, not daunted by the busy library and sourced resources that would help with their individual EPQ titles. They scanned resources to enable them to continue working at home. The students enjoyed this visit and gained many new skills and they can now return to use the library to continue to research in their own time. The students were an absolute credit to the Sixth Form.

MATHS ENTHUSIASTS CHART TOP SCORES IN NATIONAL COMPETITION

Maths enthusiasts from Richmond School and Sixth Form College have been ranked among the best problem-solvers in the country after charting top scores in the UK Mathematics Trust’s Maths Challenge (UKMT). Each year, students look forward to tackling the highly-regarded UKMT Intermediate Challenges and to continuing the school’s legacy of excellent results. This year is no exception, with a record-breaking haul of top-placed mathematicians.

Promoting a love of Maths, whilst enhancing students’ problem-solving skills, the UKMT challenges stretch over 700,000 gifted and talented students from independent and state schools across the country. Representing the school at the highest level, the Richmond School students took 17 gold, 27 silver and 26 bronze awards. The gold-placed students have qualified for the follow-on Kangaroo round, ranking them among the top 6,000. Sam Fawcett, in Year 11, achieved the elite Maclaurin Olympiad status. Only 500 qualifying students nationwide are invited to the Olympiad stage, a two-hour competition consisting of six problems, requiring full written solutions. This is an incredible achievement for Sam, making him one of the highest-performing contestants and only the fourth student, in recent years, from Richmond School to have reached this status.

The participating students included the top sets from Year 10, and volunteers from the top sets in Years 9 and 11. Their feedback revealed that they find the challenges beneficial experiences for future assessments and mathematical problem-solving, both in further education and life generally. The competitions encourage mathematical reasoning and are designed to make students think. The internationally-recognised accreditations are respected by employers, universities and colleges alike.

Scott Lunn, Lead Teacher for Maths, has been co-ordinating the Maths challenge for eight years and said: “We are delighted with this year's UKMT Intermediate Challenge results and that so many students took part in the competition, whether they attained a certificate or not. The challenge and its preparation gives excellent experience of problem-solving that is so useful for later life. We are very proud of the number of bronze, silver and gold certificates attained and we are excited for the students going forward to the next rounds. Sam Fawcett's result is worth highlighting as being within the best 500 out of many thousands of entries.”

Since its founding in 1996, the UK Mathematics Trust’s focus has been to advance the education of young people in Mathematics. The charity organises a series of nationwide competitions promoting problem-solving and other mathematical enrichment activities. Sam Fawcett, Year 11 student who reached the top-level Maclaurin Olympiad status, concluded: “I really enjoy Maths as a subject and I always look forward to the UKMT every year. I am so delighted with the result and cannot wait to carry on improving."

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SIXTH FORM STUDENTS CONTINUE LEGACY MARKING THIRTY YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

Twenty-five students from Richmond Sixth Form College have completed highly-sought-after residential courses at the prestigious Villiers Park Education Centre in Cambridge.

For thirty years, a high proportion of A-level students have secured places on week-long, subject-specific programmes that aim to give state-college students some of the tailored teaching support that is available to their independent college peers.

Competition for places is strong and, with only 18 courses on offer, Sandra Johnson, Assistant Headteacher, was delighted that so many students were successful. This year an impressive 5% of all students on the programme were from Richmond Sixth Form College. saying: “I have co-ordinated the Villiers Park programme since 2015 and each year I am impressed by the number of students who achieve places, given the hugely challenging and competitive application process where students have to be predicted As and A*s to even be considered. This year is no exception with the standard and success rate being higher than ever. It is wonderful that our strong presence and achievements at Villiers Park have a thirty-year legacy.”

Villiers Park Educational Trust is a national charity that is committed to improving equality in education and careers across the UK. Working with high-ability young people, from the state education sector, they aim to empower young people to secure places at leading universities or on other high-level routes, such as degree apprenticeships. The twenty-five students took part in the Inspiring Excellence Programme covering subject-specific courses including Humanities, Science, Maths, English and Foreign Languages. The courses are taught in a university-style setting by a team of 50 tutors who are university lecturers, PhD students or people who work in relevant industries.

The Villiers Park approach has been of enormous benefit to Faye McLean, a Year 13 student who has offers to study Archaeology at Cambridge and Durham Universities. Faye said: “I have always been interested in History but in Year 12, I was unsure about which path to follow at university and my following career. After attending a History course at Villiers Park, I realised that although I did enjoy History, I didn’t want to do straight History. However, this led me onto discovering Archaeology which is what I will hopefully be studying at university next year. Villiers Park helped me to work out where my real passion lies in History and so, as well as being an enjoyable experience, it was also extremely beneficial.”

Josh Dixon, a Year 13 student who found that the Villiers Park experience helped to cement his future career plans, added: “I think a Villiers Park course is an excellent opportunity to gain confidence, team-working skills and an insight into what it is like to learn at a post A-Level standard. Computer Science has been one of my favourite subjects throughout my time at Richmond School, but the ‘Logic to Application’ course I went on was the thing that made me really want to study it at university. I chose this course because it covers a huge range of topics from all areas of Computer Science and I was curious to see which ones I enjoyed the most. Before the course I had considered a career as a software engineer which, after going to Villiers Park, turned into an aspiration. I loved the programming challenges and working with different people, who became friends over the span of the course, to solve problems.”

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THEATRE COMPANY BRINGS GERMAN TO LIFE FOR STUDENTS

As part of our PASCH status, the German department was delighted to be able to treat Years 8, 9 and 10 German students to Onatti Theatre Company’s production of ‘Das Schlimmste Hotel’ (the worst hotel). The play was performed entirely in German and the two actors masterfully played several characters, including hotel owners, a hotel guest, a criminal and the police. The play involved some student participation and Freya, Jake and Lara all had an integral part in the story. There was much laughter and the level of German meant that it was accessible to all students. A fantastic and unique opportunity for our German students to see a production performed by actors from Cologne and Berlin.

PASCH is the ’Schools: Partners for the Future’, an initiative of the German Federal Foreign Office, in co-operation with the Goethe Institute. It forms a worldwide network of schools that have a special focus on German and German culture, which lies on widening horizons through multilingualism and a common approach to future problems as an international learning community. Richmond School is incredibly proud to be selected for and awarded this highly-regarded status, becoming a beacon in the North for the celebration and promotion of German, and one of only ten schools in the UK to be recognised as a PASCH school. STUDENTS SET THE BAR HIGH WITH THEIR SUPERTIERE Year 7 students pulled out all the stops to create a stunning display of ‘Supertiere’ for their German homework. The students designed and crafted their own Super Animal and wrote an article in German about their creation. The standard was exceptionally high and the students used a range of different materials and techniques. The judges, Mrs Potter, Mrs Wardle and Mr Clark, were faced with an incredibly difficult task. After much deliberation, they finally agreed that Guy Feakin’s hedgehog, Lesley, crafted from a book of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid, was the winner. The runners up were: Alistair Frankland’s octopus, Aimee Smith’s spider, Sam Birbeck’s and Sean Monaghan’s dog and Henry Wright’s fox.

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STUDENTS WIN HAUL OF TROPHIES AT ANNUAL TECHNOLOGY TOURNAMENT It was another incredibly successful year for students who were proud to win a haul of trophies at the annual Rotary Technology Tournament hosted by the Corps of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers at REME Barracks, . Four teams competed in the three Key Stage challenges across Years 9 to 12. They were up against teams from Bedale High, Thirsk, Barnard Castle, Cundall Manor and Wensleydale.

Despite being a team member down, the Key Stage 3 Team A, Matthew Brown, Miles Livingstone-Owen and Seth Wilkinson won the trophy for their age group. The Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5 teams both came second in their categories. The competition was very close, with the Key Stage 5 team only missing out on first place by 4 marks out of 100. Students were tasked with designing, making and testing vehicles which powered themselves up ramps using the controlled descent of a weight on a pulley system.

Both REME officers and Rotary Club Leaders praised all of the students on how well they worked as teams, their conduct, and their Engineering skills, creativity and resilience. Mr Wilson, Design and Technology Teacher said: “I believe the skill shown by our Key Stage 3 teams was testament to the advantage they had over some of their rivals in the time that our school's timetable allocates to the subject and our early start on more complex concepts through the end of Year 8 pathways.” Congratulations to all the students who took part: KS5 - Sam Gibson, Sujan Pariyar, Joely Weston, Josephine Cooper KS4 - Flynn Hunter, Matthew Short, Carys Meaney, Ellen Atkinson KS3 Team A - Matthew Brown, Miles Livinstone-Owen, Seth Wilkinson KS3 Team B - Nathan Foulds, Freddie Millns, Sue-Rin Park, Nathan Wilford

YEAR 8 STUDENTS EXPLORE THE GREAT OUTDOORS AT EAST BARNBY

Fifty-seven Year 8 students had a fantastic time on the annual trip to East Barnby where they spent five wonderful days exploring the great outdoors.

The students enjoyed a whole host of activities including: beck scrambling, raft building, climbing, canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking, orienteering, bushcraft, a low-ropes course and hiking. Many of our students had been to the centre previously with their primary school but really embraced the additional challenge and opportunities available this time around.

The trip culminated in the adventure race which saw five different teams competing against each other to navigate themselves to various challenges based on the skills they had developed over the previous three days. Huge congratulations to Miss Withington-Wray’s team who came away victorious. Visit https://www.richmondschool.net/year-8- students-explore-the-great-outdoors-at-east-barnby/ for a gallery of images.

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STUDENTS RECOGNISED FOR ACHIEVING PLACES VETERINARY NURSING TASTER COURSE Lucy Reeve and Bryony Morrison, from Year 12, were successful in securing places on a taster course at the Royal Veterinary College, planned for April 2020. Although this course is unable to go ahead, Ms Mannion said: "I wanted to recognise how well Lucy and Bryony have done to be awarded these places. They are both very determined to pursue successful careers as Veterinary Nurses and I have been so impressed by their self-motivation." The RVC has a virtual tour on its campuses available, if students are interested in finding out more: http://www.rvc.ac.uk/study/rvc-for-all/visit-us#panel-virtual-r-v-c The Hawkshead campus has the largest small animal referral hospital in Europe.

CRAFTING A CAREER IN FILM Bermet Stephenson, from Year 13, recently attended a residential weekend with the British Film Institute (BFI). Bermet was one of only 77 sixth form students to be selected from around the UK. The BFI Film Academy Craft Residential supports students aged 16-19 years to make short films under the tuition of leading industry experts who give a unique insight into the film-making business.

Bermet was treated like a VIP and was met at King's Cross Station by an ambassador from the BFI to ensure she arrived safely in Beaconsfield at the National Film and Television School. She attended masterclasses by key industry figures and gained an insight into the craft skills required in today's film industry.

Bermet said "I loved every minute of the residential weekend and talked to film-makers who are working on Netflix dramas."

Bermet is keen to develop her career in Media and has applied for apprenticeships with Sky, Netflix and Warner Bros.

Ms Mannion added, "Richmond School and Sixth Form College has a strong relationship with the BFI Academy, and we wish Bermet all the best in her career. We hope to see her name appearing in film credits in the near future."

STUDENTS SUCCEED IN TAKING NEXT STEPS WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF YORK Richmond School and Sixth Form College works closely with the University of York to support our students. Four students from Year 12 have been successful in gaining places on the University of York Next Step programme: Thomas Burgess-Mackey, Nicholas Chapman, Ashleigh Fraser and Sandesh Gurung.

The students attended a conference on 11th March and have now been offered e-mentoring by current University of York students. The mentoring will support them with their university and course research and will prepare them for their UCAS applications. The activities have been carefully developed to help participants reach their full academic potential.

In 2019, Jess Gurung and James Leadbeatter, from Year 13, attended York Next Step Residential courses. James is now planning to study for a degree in Physics, and Jess for a degree in Adult Nursing.

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STUDENTS AIM HIGH WITH THEIR APPRENTICESHIPS Four students are proud to have been shortlisted for apprenticeships, which will see them working at heights and learning key skills in health and safety, as they aim towards a career in scaffolding and safety solutions. The Year 11 students were invited to visit Swale Scaffolding Ltd, in Brompton-On-Swale, for an introduction to the company and an informal discussion about the demands of the job. The company is keen to take a planned approach to recruiting their new intake of apprentices and is working in close partnership with Richmond School. The students developed CVs and letters of application and were selected to be considered for work experience, which may lead to them being taken on as Level 2 apprentices. Swale Scaffolding will recruit three successful candidates in September, with another intake in 2021. The visit was hosted by Aaron Pepe, Contracts Manager, and Sarah Seymour, Health and Safety Manager, who explained to the students what they could expect in the role of an apprentice scaffolder. On-the-job training includes learning how to set up scaffolding, the materials and tools of the trade and the crucially important health and safety requirements. In addition, the apprenticeship involves block training at NETA Training in Stockton-on-Tees. Health and safety is paramount for the company who invest heavily to ensure each member of staff is wholly committed to ensuring themselves and their co-workers are safe on the job. The students quickly discovered that being a good team player is a hugely important attribute of all employees at the company. It was a very cold day, when snow fell during the visit, coupled with the tail end of a storm so, whilst touring the premises, the students really experienced what it would feel like to work outdoors in extreme weather conditions. Sam Connolly volunteered to try on a scaffolder’s safety harness and was able to experience first-hand how this keeps workers safe. Matty Davis said: “We gained a good understanding of the role and were shown what it would involve.” Cameron Jackson added: “We learned the importance of health and safety and that there is a lot more to the job than just putting up poles."The students thoroughly enjoyed the visit as it was so interactive and they were commended for asking a great many questions. Ms Mannion, Lead Teacher for Careers, who accompanied the students on the visit, commented: “All the students were a credit to the school when looking round the employer’s premises. They listened carefully and were very engaged.” As an Alumnus of Richmond School and Sixth Form College, Aaron Pepe, Contracts Manager at Swale Scaffolding, is looking forward to the students coming for their work experience and said: “The students were inquisitive, interested, asking all the right questions and really got stuck in." Richmond School and Sixth Form College is dedicated to offering students work experience in both Years 10 and 12 and develops strong relationships with many local companies which lead to apprenticeships for students in a range of industries. The school also works closely with members of the Fellmongers who organise an annual apprenticeship awards evening.

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CHECK OUT THE CAREERS AT HOME STUDY PACK Students are urged not to miss out on a host of valuable careers information available in our Careers at Home Study Pack, which can be viewed at https://www.richmondschool.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Careers-at- Home-Student-Pack-1.pdf

Ms Mannion, Lead Teacher for Careers, says: “The Careers at Home Study Pack is a great way for students to see all our online career resources in one place.” If stu- dents have any questions, please email Ms

DEGREE APPRENTICESHIPS A FOCUS DURING NATIONAL CAREERS WEEK 2020

National Careers Week is an opportunity to celebrate quality careers education and guidance each year. At Richmond School and Sixth Form College, we believe that quality, meaningful interactions will help students to understand the links between courses, skills and the career pathways they open up.

This year, Richmond School partnered with Morrisons Plc to explore employability skills and apprenticeships. Morrisons is a leading employer with a commitment to degree apprenticeships, working closely with Sheffield Hallam University.

Jasmine Hazell, alumna, came in to talk to students from Years 8, 9 and 12 about her degree apprenticeships. Three years ago, Jasmine was a student at Richmond Sixth Form College, and she is the first student ever to gain a degree apprenticeship. Jasmine explained about the opportunities available and what it is like managing large teams in a retail environment. Jasmine’s colleague, Amani Khan, explained about the graduate programme available.

Jasmine told the students: “I get the best of both worlds, paid employment and a fully sponsored degree. The demands of the degree apprenticeship are challenging, but I am so pleased I chose this career pathway.” Jasmine attends block placements in Sheffield for a week at a time and had just returned from a weekend in Madrid with her university group.

Ms Mannion, Manager Careers and Employability said: “Career paths are changing and evolving all the time. It is important that our students can make informed choices. We are very grateful to Amani and Jasmine for giving up their time to talk to our students.”

22 23232323232323 CAREERS YOUNG ENTREPENEURS BUILD A SUCESSFUL AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

The Young Enterprise ‘Save Our Species’ team is making great strides. Back in 2019, the team launched their own business with social aims and objectives to highlight the endangered species in the world. Their 2020 calendars sold out within days, much of this success came through the partnerships that the team had formed, for example with the Bank of Santander who placed a large order. In January, the team attended an intensive training programme at Ripon where they further developed their skills, particularly in marketing, finance and company report writing. In February, two member of the team, Archie Forbes and Evey Taylor, attended an employability event at PwC in Newcastle to learn about the skills that major businesses require. Competencies such as leadership, team working and communication were high on the list of essential skills for success, which fits well with the aims and objectives of Young Enterprise In March, the team launched their second branded product, a series of animal notebooks, and the social media strategy, promoting products on Instagram. The team now have the final hurdle of the regional competition. They must produce a four-minute video outlining their business, the roles they had all taken and the achievements they had made. Students will then hear whether they have been selected for the national finals which take place later in the year. Louise Butterfield from Young Enterprise, said: “Young Enterprise believes that the potential of the UK’s young people is unlimited, we motivate young people to succeed in the changing world of work by equipping them with the work skills, knowledge and confidence they need.” Ms Mannion, Lead Teacher for Careers, added: “I am so impressed by the continued commitment that the SOS team has shown. Young Enterprise is a new venture for Richmond Sixth Form College and the Year 12 students have given it their all, and turned a profit.” Philip Stockdale, Young Enterprise Mentor said: “Not only has this team demonstrated strong business acumen throughout, the students have successfully networked with key businesses such as HSBC, PwC and the Bank of Santander.”

SOS team: Year 12 students - Evey Taylor, Archie Forbes, Adam Hodgson, Kaelan Richards and Benjamin Richardson

23 24242424242424 ALUMNI NATIONAL AWARD FOR CHARLOTTE’S DANCE SCHOOL

We are delighted to share the news about Charlotte Porter, an award-winning alumna, who recently received the national rural business award for rural young person of the year 2019-2020. Charlotte attended Richmond School from 2005 to 2010 and is now the proprietor and teacher of a highly-successful dance school based in the stunning setting of The Station in Richmond.

Charlotte was a relatively late starter to dance, beginning ballet lessons aged ten, with the Janet Seymour School of Theatre Dance in . Her talent and passion shone through immediately and it was clear that she was not only a gifted dancer, later excelling at modern and tap, but the perfect role model to younger students as well.

Charlotte studied dance to GCSE and took part in numerous shows during her time with us. She continued to perform in multiple productions and, after leaving Richmond School, she moved to Preston Dance College where she gained her teaching qualifications in Tap Dance and Modern Theatre. Whilst studying she was awarded the Faye-Knowles Chapman Award for Choreography and selected to dance as a northern associate for the UK Tap Dance team, Tap Attack. Following college, whilst working as a professional dancer and choreographer, Charlotte continued her studies with the Royal Academy of Dance gaining a Diploma in Dance Teaching Studies qualifying her to teach the RAD’s world-renowned ballet syllabus.

Charlotte has danced professionally in the UK and France, and was later head-hunted for a position in Geneva to teach contemporary dance having been trained by Donald Edwards, teacher at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance and founding member of Phoenix Dance Theatre. However, Charlotte wanted to continue to live and work in the Dales but there was no work so she had to create her own job to be able to stay; her aim is to encourage other young people to do the same. Charlotte started her dance school in 2017, moving to the spacious and light-filled premises at the Station in January 2019. She encountered a number of barriers along the way, being told she was too young, too inexperienced and not having the right type of business model. Undeterred, Charlotte rose to the challenge and has achieved her goal.

She now offers a breadth of dance classes, leading to exams if desired, across the generations, from as young as two through to seated dance classes for the elderly. She has recently branched into offering singing, for children, the aptly-named major and minor classes, drawing on the talent of fellow alumna Sophie Montgomery to lead these groups.

Charlotte says: “I opened the Charlotte Jacqueline School of Dance as a way of providing other children in rural settings the same chance I had to experience dance and theatre arts. I have a strong community ethic and love nothing more than taking my students to perform at local events and care homes. I wanted to stay in the Dales but there weren’t any jobs in the performing arts so I set up my business so I could secure my future in the place that I care for and love so much.”

Charlotte’s two passions are the rural way of life and dancing and she has fused these together to create something special. Keen to support any local community, Charlotte actively shares her love of dance with many other local groups. She can frequently be found volunteering her time to choreograph for local village choirs, amateur dramatics and pantomimes.

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AARON OFFERS STUDENTS A TASTE OF LIFE AS AN APPRENTICE Aaron Pepe, Contracts Manager at Swale Scaffolding, is keen to give something back and is working closely with the school on the apprenticeship opportunities the company offers students. He welcomed four of our Year 11 students to Swale Scaffolding where they gained an insight into the life of a scaffolder, the importance of health and safety, the markets the company operates in and the opportunities that are available (please refer to page 21 for a review of the students’ invaluable visit). Aaron attended Richmond School from Year 7 through to Year 13. With a keen interest in Business, Engineering and Sport, his GCSEs included Business Studies, Design and Technology and PE. He went on to study A-level PE and BTech Sport in the Sixth Form.

After completing his- A levels, and working part-time at the Co-op, Aaron travelled to Australia for sixth months, before continuing his studies, whilst working in his first job as a General Labourer at Swale Scaffolding. For three years, Aaron attended Newcastle College one day a week where he achieved a NVQ in construction. Over the next two years, Aaron went on to qualify as a Part 1 and Part 2 level scaffolder, before progressing to Assistant Contracts Manager. He was promoted to Contracts Manager in 2014. Aaron regularly returns to Richmond School as he plays hockey for Richmond.

SOPHIE SINGS IN PRESTIGIOUS CHOIRS

Sophie Overin is a recent graduate of Royal Holloway, University of London, where she received a First-Class degree with distinction in Music and French. Now based in London, she is building up a freelance career, and can be found singing with various choirs such as those at the Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, St. Sepulchre’s, Holborn and St. Bartholomew the Great, amongst others, as well as ensembles such as the Carice Singers and Tenebrae.

Sophie's musical life began at St. Mary’s Church. This was followed by her membership of the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain and vocal studies at the Junior Royal Northern College of Music. At university, she held a choral scholarship with the Choir of Royal Holloway, with whom she regularly toured and recorded. Sophie is a member of the current cohort of the prestigious Genesis Sixteen training scheme, as well as the St. Martin’s Voices Fellowship. Sophie continues to build her performance portfolio, with a particular focus on French 19th and 20th century repertoire.

MEMENTO FROM THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL DAYS We were saddened to hear about the death of Ralph Waggett, who attended Richmond Grammar School in the late 1930s/early 1940s. Mrs Potter was honoured to receive Ralph's school cap and cap, bequeathed by Mr Waggett to the school. These were kindly handed over to Mrs Potter by Mr Stephen Garget, on behalf of Hunton & Garget Solicitors in Richmond, where Mr Waggett worked during his career. The caps are in great condition and will be proudly displayed in the school's display cabinet, along with trophies and other school treasures. The Waggett family have a long-standing connection with Richmond School, with many members attending the school over the years.

25 26262626HEADTEACHER262626 ’S VALUES AWARD WINNERS

ZAK RIDLEY, YEAR 13, WAS NOMINATED BY MR SANDELL FOR HIS COMMITMENT TO AND EXCELLENCE IN CHEMISTRY. GUY FEAKINS, YEAR 7, WAS NOMINATED BY MRS CHEESEBROUGH FOR HIS EXCELLENCE IN LANGUAGES AND THE EXCEPTIONAL SUPERTIER HE PRODUCED FOR HIS GERMAN HOMEWORK.

SCOTT STORR, YEAR 11, WAS NOMINATED BY MS MANNION FOR BEING A GREAT ROLE MODEL TO OTHER STUDENTS SAM FAWCETT, YEAR 11, WAS NOMINATED AND FOR HIS DETERMINATION TO BY MR LUNN FOR HIS EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVE HIS CAREER ASPIRATIONS. PERFORMANCE IN THE UKMT MATHS CHALLENGE (PLEASE REFER TO PAGE 16 FOR FURTHER DETAILS ON THE COMPETITION.

Congratulations to all the students who have received the Headteacher’s Values HAROLD RAVEN, YEAR 9, WAS NOMINATED BY MISS THORNTON FOR HIS OUTSTANDING Award this year. RESULTS IN THE NATIONAL BEBRAS COMPUTATIONAL THINKING CHALLENGE, SCORING THE MAXIMUM POINTS.

26 272727272727YEAR27 13s GO BACK TO SCHOOL Following tradition, the Year 13 students marked the last day in college by wearing their old school uniforms.

A Team

B Team

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28282828A2828 GREAT28 SIGN OFF FOR STUDENTS Quick thinking by staff ensured the Year 11 students were able to enjoy the customary shirt-signing. It was a bitter-sweet moment for the students as their end of year was suddenly brought forward by several weeks.

It was an emotional time for staff and students. Jenna Potter, Headteacher, said: “Our hearts go out to all our students at this challenging time, but in particular to our Year 11 and Year 13 students who are not able to sit their GCSE and A-levels. They are an incredible group of individuals who all the staff are immensely proud of. They have developed into the most fantastic young people and we all feel privileged to have been a part of that. We will miss them all and urge them to be good, stay safe, continue to work hard and look after each other.”

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